6.  The applicant was born in 1954 and lives in Gütersloh, Germany. He is also acting on behalf of his daughter Anna Kemper.
7.  The applicant is married and lives with his wife and two children born in wedlock. His daughter Anna, whose mother, Ms Kemper, died after having given birth to her, was born out of wedlock on 29 December 1993. Due to her premature birth and a so-called hydrocephalous she had developed, Anna needed constant medical supervision. She stayed in hospital until 11 March 1994 and has since then been living with Mr P. and his wife Mrs P., her mother’s half-sister.
8.  On 3 January 1994 the applicant lodged a motion with the Gütersloh District Court to appoint him as Anna’s guardian. On 9 March 1994 a judicial officer of the District Court granted Mr and Mrs P.’s motion to appoint them as Anna’s guardians and dismissed the applicant’s respective motion. The District Court found in particular that the applicant was not in a position to ensure that his daughter received the intensive care and medical treatment she needed on account of her illness.
9.  On 28 December 1994 the Bielefeld Regional Court dismissed the applicant’s appeal against the District Court’s decision after having heard the parties twice. On 26 February 1996 the Hamm Court of Appeal dismissed the applicant’s further appeal regarding his request for appointment as guardian. Insofar as the appointment of both Mrs and Mr P. as guardians was concerned, the Court of Appeal remitted the case to the District Court as, pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Civil Code, only one person should have been appointed.
10.  On 3 April 1996 a judicial officer of the Gütersloh District Court discharged Mr P. as Anna’s guardian, finding that Mrs P. was taking care of the child in the first place. On 3 June 1996 the Bielefeld Regional Court dismissed the applicant’s appeal against the District Court’s decision. On 20 May 1997 the Hamm Court of Appeal dismissed the applicant’s further appeal.
11.  On 13 December 2000 the Federal Constitutional Court refused to admit the applicant’s constitutional complaints lodged on 21 March 1996 and on 30 June 1997 respectively against the above-mentioned decisions of the guardianship courts in a joint decision. The decision was sent to the applicant on 27 December 2000.
12.  On 27 March 1995 the applicant lodged a motion with the Rheda‑Wiedenbrück District Court to be granted access to his daughter. On 23 February 1996 the District Court dismissed the applicant’s request to be granted access to Anna by way of an interim injunction. On 28 May 1997 the District Court, after having held three hearings, dismissed the applicant’s request for access. It notably found that due to Anna’s fragile state of health and psychological condition and the extreme enmity between the applicant and Mrs P. access would have a detrimental effect on Anna’s well-being.
13.  On 22 January 1998 the Bielefeld Regional Court, without holding a hearing, dismissed the applicant’s appeal.
14.  On 13 December 2000 the Federal Constitutional Court, without giving further reasons, refused to admit the applicant’s constitutional complaint lodged on 27 February 1998. The decision was served on the applicant on 28 December 2000.